Impressive UAE blank PNG 3-0

United Arab Emirates put up an impressive show on Friday (April 14) to beat Papua New Guinea twice to seal the series 3-0. After having already taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 series on Wednesday, UAE were on the march once again at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi and ended up thrashing their opponents comprehensively.

2nd T20I

Shaiman Anwar was the star of the show first up in the first of the two games as he smashed his first century in the format to help his side pose an imposing total of 180 on the board. PNG's decision to bowl first backfired even though Norman Vanue reduced UAE to 9 for 2 by getting rid of both the openers. It was a one-man show out in the middle as Anwar first put on 62 for the third wicket with Mohammed Qasim and was then involved in an unbroken 109-run stand with Rameez Shahzad.

Anwar smashed six sixes and ten fours in his knock and ended up unbeaten on 117 off 68 deliveries. Despite racing to 42 in 3.2 overs in the chase, PNG found themselves on the backfoot after losing four quick wickets. Sese Bau and Jack Vare tried to revive the chase with useful contributions but with Ahmed Raza breaking the stand by running out Bau for 30, PNG lost steam. Eventually, they were bowled out for 150 with Mohammad Naveed cleaning up the tail.

PNG once again won the toss in the inconsequential tie and this time they decided to bat first. Even though the UAE bowlers had to come out to bowl again in a matter of few hours, they showed no signs of fatigue. Openers Tony Ura and Lega Siaka put up 54 for the first wicket but the rest of the batters failed to make use of the ideal platform. The five bowlers whom UAE used, bowled in economical fashion and gave nothing away to the batsmen. They eventually choked PNG for 128 for 5 in their 20 overs.

Even though one would have imaged that it wasn't enough for a team that posted 180 just a few hours earlier but PNG stunned UAE with a quick burst that left the hosts reeling at 6 for 3 after 1.1 overs. With Anwar being one of the victims, UAE were in serious danger of failing to chase the total down. Muhammad Usman and Rameez Shahzad though consolidated the innings with a century stand that came in exactly 15 overs. While Usman made a fifty, Shahzad was dismissed for 47. Adnan Mufti and Ghulam Shabber completed the victory with five balls left in the innings.